Lost on Titan

{Part 38}

~Videl~

As Kane's hand on her waist guided her down the hallway to the private quarters he'd grown up in, Videl wondered if he took his looks from his mother or his father. She wondered if his little sister would look like a younger, female version of him. She hoped that his family would like her. Kane had mentioned one day in the Cafeteria that he hadn't seen his sister since he moved to his own place, and she could imagine that his family would be overjoyed by his unexpected visit. She had asked him in the elevator if he wanted to call them to let them know that he was coming , and he had shifted slightly like he was uncomfortable.

"We don't really do calls," Kane had said, gruffly. "We'll just let it be a surprise."

From the way that his smile after he'd said it looked forced, it seemed like there was more to that statement than just a general lack of need for that type of communication. But she didn't question it, as the elevator doors opened on the Level, and Kane led her to his family's private quarters. Kane paused for a moment as he studied his wristband. Was he deciding if he should call rather than walk right in?

Then, he sighed and swiped it past the sensor. The indicator light flashed green and a beep sounded as the door slid open, but he only stepped onto the threshold to keep the door from closing, seemingly choosing not to barge all the way in. His hand caught hers and squeezed tightly, and she could have sworn his palm was sweaty, but then he let go, and she wasn't sure that she hadn't just imagined it.

"Mom? Kiana?" Kane called out, his voice sounding tight and strained with emotion.

There was the faint sound of something sizzling, and then the sound of footsteps running toward the door.

"Kane!?"

A beautiful teenage girl came bounding forward with a look of shock playing on her face. She had silver eyes like Kane's, but that was pretty much where the resemblance ended. While his hair was a dashing bronze, hers was an almost translucent platinum blond that hung in a trendy asymmetrical cut with one side reaching her chin, and the other side grazing her shoulder. She had white eyeliner around her eyes in an intricate pattern that gave her an almost alien-like appearance, and Videl was stunned by how pretty she was to be able to pull off such a unique style, and make it look so natural on her.

The girl's bare feet skidded to a halt in front of them, and she blinked rapidly, like she couldn't believe Kane was standing there. Videl felt Kane's body go rigid beside her. Then, his sister's eyes filled with big juicy tears as she threw herself at him, hugging his neck so tightly that Videl was surprised he could breathe enough to speak.

"I missed you, Kiki." Kane managed to squeeze out of his audibly constricted throat.

His little sister Kiana's sobs were muffled by his chest as she cried, "I missed you, too! So much!!"

When she dropped back down to her feet with a little thump, her eyes landed on Videl - who was smiling at the wholesome sight, imagining how nice it must have been to grow up with a sibling.

"I'm so sorry I was - " Kiana had been starting to say as she dropped down, but she cut herself off mid-sentence when she noticed Videl. "Who is this?"

Videl was relieved that her inquiry sounded genuinely curious, rather than annoyed or suspicious. Kane grinned as he ushered Videl forward a step so she was standing a little further forward, instead of beside and slightly behind him.